Year 6 Transition

Why join Future Academies Watford?

We recognise that, as a parent, choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions we make. We need to ensure that we select the right school because we are entrusting our children into its care for the next 5 to 7 years. At Future Academies Watford, we are committed to working with parents to ensure we can offer the best possible school for your children.

Future Academies Watford is a school characterised by high academic standards, robust pastoral care and a co-curricular programme that is second-to-none. Students here benefit from teaching by subject specialists who are superbly well-qualified to teach and inspire their students to love learning as much as they do. Students are known for the individuals they are and are supported here by a range of people in the pastoral team, including their tutors, Heads of Year and Pastoral Support Leaders. Future Academies Watford has designated staff who work closely with children and families to support the transition to secondary school and ensure all students feel a strong sense of belonging within our school community.

One of the defining features of our school education is the breadth of opportunities we offer our students through our co-curricular programme and, with scores of clubs and societies on offer to them, there are numerous ways for students to develop their resilience and confidence, their ability to work independently and as part of a team. See the co-curricular/enrichment programme available here.

All in all, we aim to deliver the transformative education every one of our students deserve – an education that will lead to success while they are with us and long after they have left us.

Year 6 Transition

Welcome to our Year 6 Transition page, where you can access resources and information about the transition from primary to secondary school. We recognise that the move from primary school to secondary school is a big one – often for parents and carers as much as for the students! Our extensive transition programme allows us to make the process a positive and exciting experience for our students.

Each year at Future Academies Watford, we have worked to tailor and refine our transition programme to ensure a supportive transition for every child that joins us. Students who are offered a place at Future Academies Watford will be invited to attend transition events during the summer term. These days give pupils the opportunity to explore our outstanding curriculum, get to know our highly skilled teaching staff, and build confidence before starting in September. At the beginning of the autumn term, Year 7 students take part in dedicated induction days, including tailored lessons and assemblies designed to help them understand how to succeed at Future Academies Watford. Through strong partnerships with primary schools locally and further afield, we are able to support a smooth and well-planned transition, enabling new Year 7 students to settle quickly and feel comfortable in their new environment.

Who's Who?

Leadership Team & Pastoral Staff 

Worried about change and transition?

Our Induction Days and our Year‑7‑only start in September are designed to help you feel confident, prepared and excited before the rest of the school returns. You’ll meet friendly faces, get to know your teachers and classmates, and practise our routines so the building feels familiar from day one. It’s a gentle, supportive start to your Gracewood journey and you can find even more information about the support available to you below.

See below for some more helpful advice to manage wellbeing throughout this change.

Wellbeing and Advice

1. Clinicians at the Anna Freud Centre have developed 7 ways to support children and young people feeling fear and worry, especially at a time of change.

Seven ways to support children and young people who are worried | Anna Freud

2. Save the Children have produced a useful guide to understanding the difference between normal nerves and when this might be closer to anxiety and what you can do as parents to support.

School Anxiety: 5 Ways to Help Children With Back to School Worries (Updated 2025)

•  BBC Bitesize have put together a page that supports parents who have children starting secondary school this year.

Starting secondary school - BBC Parents' Toolkit - BBC Bitesize

•  Young Minds have produced a video giving practical tools for supporting transition to secondary school and supporting young people’s mental health.

Supporting school transitions | Resources | YoungMinds

•  The Spark have two helpful Blog posts that support both parents and students embarking on the new journey of transition to Secondary school.

Starting Secondary School: A Guide for Parents - The Spark

Starting Secondary School: Tips for Young People - The Spark